Adjustable headrest for bathtubs



April 4, 1950 A. zUKoR ADJUSTABLE HEADREST FOR BATH TUBs Filed Jan. 29. 1948 JNVENTOR. ZUIOR Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 29, 194s, serialyNo. 5,001

v Claims.

. This invention relates to'head rests and more particularly to head rests forV use in combination with bathtubs.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a novel head rest which is adapted to be mounted in position adjacent the head end of the bathtub in a manner to engage the back of the head aty thenape of the neck and support the same while the person taking'a bath in the tub assumes a reclining position.

Another object of the ,invention proposes the construction of head rest having a head rest member formed Aof corkl or other similar resilient material and which is universally supported in a manner to assume various pivoted positions in response to movements of the head.

Still another object of thepresent invention proposes the construction of a head rest having a head rest member'w'hich is adjustable in a sub stantially vertical plane in a manner to adjust the vertical positioning ofthe head rest member to suit the immediate needs of the person using the same. v v l Itis a further object of this invention to so construct the head rest andits supports that the same may be entirely removed fromthe bathtub when so desired, leaving' the tub free of any obstructions. l I

A still. `further object of the present invention proposes the construction of a head rest for a bathtub arranged to be clamped inposition between the walls of the bath room immediately above the bathtub or between the opposite side' walls of the tub itself.

lIt is still a further object of this invention to construct a head rest, and particularly a head rest for a bathtub, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost. For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying -drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bathtub provided with a head rest constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is aA front elevational view of the head rest shown in positionvon the bathtub which is shown in section. v I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the clamps taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the head rest taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the head rest taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig; 7 is a vertical sectional View of a portion of a bathtub illustrating a head rest constructed in accordance with a modicaton of the inventionY and clamped in position between the side walls of the tub.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

The head rest according to the present invention comprises a substantially U-shaped frame I0, preferably of a non-corrosive metal; such as stainless steel, having its intermediate arm Illa shaped to conform to the top edge of a bathtub II at the head end thereof, see Fig. 4.

. molded in the side walls of the casing I2.

y within the bosses I8 allowing the casing I2 to pivotlv v U-shaped frame I0. The bolts I3 have shoulders" I5 against which the inner faces of the forwardly extending arms IIlb of the yLl-shaped frame are adapted to engage. Thumb nuts I6 threadedly engage the projected ends of the bolts I3 fory clamping the arms Ib between the shoulders I5 and the thumb nuts II for holding the casing I2 in various adjusted positions along the length of the slots I4.

` The bolts I3 have enlarged heads Il rotatively retained in recesses formed in metallic bosses I8 enlarged heads Il are retained in position in the recesses of the bosses I8 by means of rings which' are welded, braised or in any other manner secured in position. The heads I'l are rotative ona horizontal axis.

A head rest member I9 is disposed in the open front of the casing I2 and has its exposed face shaped to conform to the baclz of a persons head.

, The head rest member I9 is preferably formed of The pivot on an axis extended through the trunnions 20. The trunnions 2l) have threaded engagement with threaded bushings 22 mounted in the top and bottom Walls of the casing l2, see Fig. 6. With this construction, trunnions can be removed freeing the head rest member IE! for replacement when desired.

Means is provided for resisting a free pivoting of the head rest member I9 and for retaining the same in a neutral position within the casing I2. This means comprises small sponge rubber blocks 23 interposed between the ends of the head rest member i9 and the back Wall of the casing I2. Adhesive 24 securely attaches the small sponge rubber blocks 23 to the back face of the casing l2.

Clamps 25 are provided for holding the substantially U-shaped frame li in position upon the top edge of the bathtub ll at the head end thereof. These clamps comprise armsZB inextension members 2l, Which are provided at their free ends with enlarged heads 21a faced with rubber 23 for engaging the Walls 29 of the bath room above the bathtub Il. The extension members 2 are formed With small extending ngers 3l) by which the extension members 2'! may be conveniently gripped for tightening the same against the walls 2S of the bath room.

With the head rest mounted in position upon the head end of the bathtub as shown in Figs. l to 3, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel head rest member I9 shaped to conform to the back of ones head and formed of suiiiciently soit material to permit ones head to be comfortably rested thereon While in a reclining position Within the tub Il. Then, too, the head rest member i9, by reason of its turning action on the trunnions 20 and the turning action of the casing l2 on the enlarged heads I'I of the threaded bolts i3, is free to move in all directions in response to movements of the head resting on the member I9.

In the modication of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the construction of the head rest is similar to that previously described, 'diering only in the manner of clamping the substantially U-shaped frame it in position. In this form of the invention, the side walls of the bathtub Il are formed with horizontal, longitudinally extending grooves 35, located adjacent the top edges of the tub. The ends of the extension members 21 of the clamps 25 are adapted to be received in the grooves 35, permitting the 'head rest to be clamped in any position within the bathtub li within the lengths of the grooves 35.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously described, and like reference numerals identify like parts in the several views.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel head rest adapted to be mounted on a bathtub and which will act to comfortably support ones head and one Which may be entirely removed from the bathtub when desired to permit a free and easy cleaning of the interior of the tub.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments or my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope oi' the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said iirst axis.

2. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said rst axis, said frame being substantially U-shaped and having its intermediate arm shaped to conform to the top edge of the bathtub at the head end thereof.

3. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said rst axis, said mounting of said casing, comprises threaded bolts passing through elongated slots formed in said frame, shoulders formed on said threaded bolts, thumb nuts on said threaded bolts for clamping said frame in position on said bolts against said shoulders, permitting adjustment of said bolts along the length of said slots to similarly adjust said casing, enlarged heads formed on said threaded bolts, and means for pivotally attaching said enlarged heads to the end Walls of said casing.

4. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a cas ing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said rstfaxis, said mounting of said casing, comprises threaded boltsl passing through elongated slots formed in said frame, shoulders formed on said threaded bolts, thumb nuts on said threaded bolts for clamping said frame in position on said bolts against said shoulders, permitting adjustment of said bolts along the length of said slots to similarly adjust said casing, enlarged heads formed on said threaded bolts, and means for pivotally attaching said enlarged heads to the end Walls of said casing, said enlarged heads being turnably received in'bosses mounted on the end walls of said casing forming the pivotalattaching means for said enlarged heads.

5. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said first axis, said pivotal supporting means for said head rest member, comprises trunnions extending inwards from the top and bottom walls of said casing and engaging into complementary recesses formed in the top and bottom faces of said head rest member.

6. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said first axis, said pivotal supporting means for said head rest member, comprises trunnions extending inwards from the top and bottom walls of said casing and engaging into complementary recesses formed in the top and bottom faces of said head rest member, said trunnions being threadedly engaged with threaded bushings mounted through the top and bottom walls of said casing permitting removal of said y trunnions to free said head rest member when desired.

'7. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and

means pivotally supporting said head rest memn ber to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said rst axis, and means resisting a free pivotal movement of said head rest member.

8. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotallf7 supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through. the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to Said rst axis, and means resisting a free pivotal movement of said head rest member, said resisting means, comprises small sponge rubber blocks interposed between the ends of said head rest member and the back Wall of said cas- 9. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally supported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and Which extends at right angles to said rst axis, and extendable clamps for securing the frame in position, said clamps ybeing engageable with Walls above the bath tub,

l0. A head rest for bathtubs, comprising a frame positioned adjacent one end of a bathtub, a casing pivotally rsupported on said frame to be vertically adjustable and to pivot on an axis extended through the pivotal support, a head rest member for engaging the back of the head at the nape of the neck and mounted in said casing, and means pivotally supporting said head rest member to pivot on an axis extended through said pivotal support and which extends at right angles to said first axis, and extendable clamps for securing the frame in position, said clamps being engageable in horizontal grooves formed in the side Walls of the tub adjacent the top edge thereof.

ARNOLD ZUKOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,403 Thill July 8, 1902 2,282,688 Zuck et al. May 12, 1942 

